Mail-box fastener.



S. H. PETERS. MAIL BOX PASTENER.

APPLIUATION FILED ooT.1, 1912.

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SAMUEL H. PETERS', 0E ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

M AILfBox EAsTENER.

TOQZZ 107mm mry concern.'

Be it known t-hat I, SAMUEL I-I. PETERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Allentown, in the county of Lehigh and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Mail-Box F asteners, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improved mail box and automatically acting locking means therefor and consists in the construction,

combination and arrangement of devices hereinafter described and claimed.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved fastener which automatically locks the mail box when the latter is closed and which may be readily operated to unlock the box when it is desired to open the latter to remove mail therefrom.

In the accompanying drawings:-Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a mail box in closed position provided with my improved automatically operated fastening devices. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectinal view of the same on the plane indicated by the line @ha of Fig. 1.

The body of my improved mail box comprises a main member' 1 and a pivoted member 2 connected to the member 1 by a hinge lever. The member 1 comprises a back 2 and side walls 3. The member 1 has a top 5 provided with an opening 6 to admit mail matter and also has a hinge lid 7 to close the said opening. v. Links 12 connect the members of the box, as shown.

In the Lipper end of the member 1 of the I box and just below the top 5 is a rectangular frame 15, the rear side 1G of which is secured to the back wall 3 by means of a screw or similar device 17 and the ends 18 of which are secured to the walls l by screws or similar devices 19. The front side of the bar 20 of said frame is spaced a suitable distancel from the front side of the upper end of the member' 1 and is provided with a centrally arranged longitudinal slot 21.

rIhe catch 22 is slidably mounted on the bar 20, this movement being controlled by a stop screw 23 which operates in t-he slot 21 and the said catch having an inclined front surface 24. The catch is provided with an arm 25 which extends through an opening in one side wall of the box member 1 and is provided at its outer end with a button or presser head 2G. A rocker arm 27 is pivotally Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed Octoberl, 1912.

Patented July 8, 1913. Serial N o. 723,393.

mounted as at 28 on one end bar 18 of the frame 16 and is pivotally connected as at 29 to the arm 25 of the catch, the pivot 29 operating in an opening` 30 with which the said arm is provided. A rod 31 has one end pivotally connected as at 32 to the other end of the rocker-arm, the said pivot 32 operating in a slot or opening in one end of said rod, the said rod being mounted for longitudinal movement in a guide 33 with which y the rear bar 1G of the frame 15 is provided and being provided with a head 34 which travels on said rear bar. A coiled spring 35 is placed on the said rod, one end of the said spring bearing against the guide 33 and the other end thereof being engaged by a pin 3G and a washer 37 carried by said rod. Hence, the rod is moved in one direction by the spring and through the instrumentality of the yoke 27 normally holds the catch 22 in locking position. The outer end of the rod 31 extends through an opening in one side of the box member 1 and has a head 38 which forms a stop to limit the movement of the rod by the spring 35.

On the inner side of the front wall 8 of the box member 2, near the upper end thereof, is a bracket in which is pivotally mounted a spring pressed latch 10 which, when the box is closed engages the inclined or cam face 24 of the catch 22 and is caused to engage said catch and thereby lock the box in closed position. By pressing in* wardly on the presser head 2G, the catch may be moved longitudinally a suilicient distance, against the tension of the spring 35 to be out of the path of and, hence, engage the latch 40 thereby unfastening the box and permitting the front member 2 thereof to be turned downwardly to open position.

`While I have herein shown and described a preferred form of my invention, I would have it understood that changes may be made in the form, proportion and construction of the several parts without departing from the spirit of my invention and within the scope of the appended claims. I would also have it understood that the parts of my box may be made of any suitable material and that the box may be of any suitable form and size.

I claim 1. A mail box of the class described comprising a pair of members hinged together, one of said members having a longitudinally movable catch, and means to cause said catch to move to disengaged position, and a spring pressed latch carried by Vthe other member and adapted to engage said catch When the box is closed, the rst mentioned member of the box being further provided With a frame on which said catch is mounted for longitudinal movement, a longitudinally movable rod also mounted on said frame, a spring acting on said rod to move the same in one direction, and a rocker arm pivotally mounted on the same frame and connected to said rod and said latch.

2. A mail box of the class described comprising a pair of members hinged together,

: one of said members having a longitudinally movable catch, and means to cause said catch to move to disengaged position, and a spring pressed latch carried by the other member and adapted to engage said catch When the Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the box is closed, the first mentioned member of the box being further provided With a frame on Which said catch is mounted for longitudinal movement, a longitudinally movable rod also mounted on said frame, a spring acting on said rod to move the same in one direction, and a rocker arm pivotally mounted on the same :trame and connected to said rod and said latch, the rod and the latch being each provided vvith an arm eX- tending through an opening in one side of the inst-mentioned member of the box.

In testimony whereof I affix my Signature in presence of two Witnesses.

SAMUEL H. PETERS.

Witnesses HAM. J. FELDBEYD, CHAS. L. WALTERS.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

